Scarification

Scarification, the art of creating designs in the body through the use of scar tissue.  Sounds painful, but if it is done properly, the sensation can be incredible, and the finished product a work of art.

Scarification is most commonly done by two different methods, branding or cutting.  On this page, I will focus on cutting.  If you would like to know more about branding, click here. 

Cutting and scarification have been around for centuries.  It originated in several African and indigenous Australian cultures, and often communicated elements of their cultural system and religious beliefs.  The Baule people of the Ivory Coast believed that scarification was the ultimate mark of civilization, and without these marks, a person is not considered part of the community.  The Tiv of Nigeria use facial scarification for aesthetic reasons to enhance facial features.  Among the Maori of New Zealand, highborn males endure an elaborate and painful form of tattooing called Moko.  Moko is cutting and chiseling away the skin and filling it with a pigment to create elaborate designs used show status within the tribe and intimidate their enemies in battle.  In many cultures, a woman’s eagerness to bear the pain of scarification is an indication of emotional maturity and willingness to bear children.  It can serve as an emblem of the strength, fortitude, and courage of both men and women.  As a result, scars elicit society’s admiration.

The psychology of cutting was largely ignored for many years.  Dr. Favazza wrote a book in the mid 80’s called Bodies Under Siege which was rejected by fifteen different publishing houses as being too extreme to publish.  It was finally published by Johns Hopkins University Press and has since gone into its second edition.  In this book, Dr. Favazza discusses the mind set of people that cut themselves through depression and anger.  The short version is externalizing an internal pain.  The theory that if you feel pain on the inside and cut yourself, pouring all the negative energy of your internal pain into that cut, you can watch it heal, and thus, help heal the internal pain at the same time.

The best implements to use for any cutting are scalpels or surgical blades.  Hobby blades and x-acto knives are not suitable as they are not as sharp as a scalpel, and they are slightly serrated, which leaves a jagged cut and uneven scarring can occur.  Also, many hobby blades are lightly oiled, which irritates the cut in a bad way.

If deep cuts are made at an angle, they can be packed with clay or ash, which helps in the scarring process.  This process was fairly common in Africa until recent Western influence has caused this method to dwindle out.  During healing, the body will either envelop the clay or force it out, causing a very slow healing would that has a lot of scar tissue built up around it.

                    Cutting on Thigh after 3 months